Controller-lever for automatic musical instruments.



A. P. GUSTAFSON.

CONTROLLER LEVER FOR AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

' APPLICATION man DEC-4. 19 13.

Patented Apr. 27, 1915.

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'AIDQLPH PETER sus'rarson, or

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, .ASSIGNOB; TO M. SCHULZ (30., OF

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

messes.

To all whom it may concern: p 7

Be it known that I, ADoLrrI GUsTAF- son, acitizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county" of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Controlling-Levers placed in'position for operation and removedfrom such position out of the way; to'avoid cutting or changing the instrument in order to accommodate the levers; and to secure the foregoing and other desirable results in a simple and expeditious manner.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is an elevation of a portion of a player piano, having controlling levers embodying my in vention; Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on line 2-2 in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a sideelevation of one ofthe members, and Fig. a is a plan of a portion of the same.

In the drawings I show a portion of a player piano comprising the part 1, key-bed 2 and keys 4.4.

Controlling levers 5-5 are shown for controlling the various instrumentalities of the instrument. These levers preferably are arranged to stand in front of the key-rail 2 when in use and to be lowered so as to be out of the way when not in use. As a simple and advantageous construction for this purpose It show said levers 5 conveniently made inthe form of an l. having a long bar or arm 5*, and a short cross bar 5 which latter is pivoted at 6, so as to permit said lever to be swung down as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. Thus when in an upright position as shown in Fig. 2, the lever is available for service and may be swung or moved as desired in accordance with its connections or arrangements to operate the device or instrumentality which it is intended to control. When, however, the use of the instrument is discontinued, said lever 5 may be swung down about its pivotal connection 6,

Specificationof Letters Yatent;

Patented Apr. 27, 1%15.

Application filed December 4,1913. Serial No. seams.

and will then come into position as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, conveniently under the key rail 2 and behind the front edge of the same, so that said lever is completely out of the way. The lever 5 is shown pivoted to a rod'or bar 7 to illustrate one form of connection which may be made with said lever 5, in which case the pivot 6 pivots the arm 5 to said rod or bar 7. The rod or bar 7 is shownextending back toward the rear of the instrument where it isunderstood to be connected in some suitable or proper way with an instrumentality which it is tocontrol. The arm 5' of the lever 5 is desirably providedwith a notch 8 and the rod or bar Twith a pin 9 which is adapted to fit the notch 8 so as to serve as a stop for the lever 5 and limit the forward movement thereof. The pivot 6 isapreferably arranged in con nection with a strong spring or strap 10 which. is secured to the bar 7 by a rivet 11,

and engages the outer end of the pivot 6 so as to hold the head thereof strongly against the arm 5, and thereby permit said arm to be held firmly against the bar 7 so as to permit the lever 5 to be properly swung up and down into and out of position but at the same time to provide friction enough to hold said lever in any position to which it may be adjusted.

It will be seen that when the levers are up in position they allow easy and proper manipulation to bring about the desired control of the instrument, and when swung down said levers are well out of the way, and this is accomplished without cutting the front parts of the instrument or providing any covers or similar devices to cover up the levers.

It will be understood that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

lVhat I claim is: y

1. In an instrument of the class specified, the combination of a movable member for use in the operation of the instrument, a controlling lever pivoted to said member, and means for exerting friction upon the pivotal connection between said member and lever.

2. In an instrument of the class specified, the combination of a movable member for use in the operation of the instrument, a controlling lever pivotally mounted upon said member, and a spring exerting tension on said pivotal mounting to cause friction at the same.

" and Zmember, and V I one end of said pivot and arranged to draw upon the same so as to cause frictionat said use in the operation of the lever pivotally connected with 7 I and a pin carried by said member, said lever member extending in a forwardly and rear-' Copies of this patent may be obtained for '3. In an instrumentof the class specified, the combination of a movable member for use in the operation of'the instrument, a lever pivoted to said member,a pivot forming the pivotal connection between said lever a spring connected with pivotal connection.

In an instrument of the class specified, :the combination of a movablemember for instrument, a said member,

having-a notch adapted to engage said pin to limit'the' extent of pivotal movement of said lever. I, V

'5. In an instrument of the class specified, the combination of a movable member for useinthe operation of the instrument, said Wardly direction, and having its front end at the front of the instrument, a controlling :lever for manual engagement pivotally connected With the front end of said movable member, and spring means exertingtension in the position to which the combination of a member extending in a five cents each, by addressing the Washington, D. 0.

upon the pivotal connection between said member and lever tending to hold the latter it is adjusted.

In an instrument of the class specified, movable member for use in theoperation of the instrument, said forwardly and rear- Wardlydirection, and having its front end at the front of the instrument, a controlling lever for manual engagement pivotally connected with the front end of said movable member, and spring means exerting tension upon the pivotal connection between said member and lever tending to hold the latter in the position to which it is adjusted, said spring means comprising a fiat spring having one of its ends secured to said member and its other end secured to the pivot forming' said pivotal connection.

In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 17th day of November, A. D., 1913. I

ADOLPH PETER GUSTAFSON.

itnesses:

HAZEL ANN J ones, A. L. JONES.

Commissioner of Patents, 

